Talking with SCU's Baseball Operations Assistant Kellen Lee

Apr 24, 2012

As the Bronco baseball operations assistant for SCU, Kellen Lee has his plate full, especially with the transition from player to administrator. Lee previously played catcher for the now SCU Baseball Coach Dan O'Brien at UC San Diego, where Lee graduated with a double major in Communications and Psychology in 2011. Lee finished his career with a .996 fielding percentage and now is looking towards an administrative baseball career here at SCU.

Q. How did you get involved in baseball?A. I have been involved in baseball my entire life. We have home videos of me when I was about 2 years old swinging a big red plastic bat in the backyard. I have been playing ever since I could remember and plan to stay involved in it somehow.

Q. What is your favorite thing about baseball?A. There are too many things to choose but if I have to, I will say the thrill of hitting a pitcher's best pitch squarely and the feeling of success.

Q. What was it like playing for Coach O'Brien and now working with him at SCU?A. It is so hard to explain what it is like to play for Coach O'Brien. He truly brings out the best in his players on and off the field. He is passionate about teaching life skills away from baseball which actually translate into elevated play on the field.

Q. What are your goals for the team this year?A. I would like to see our team have fun playing the game they love and the wins will take care of themselves.

Q. Who is your favorite MLB team? Player?A. I love my San Diego Padres! My favorite player is Joe Mauer, the catcher from the Minnesota Twins. I was a catcher and I love the way he plays the game.

Q. What accomplishment in your baseball career are you most proud of?A. I would say the accomplishment that I am most proud about was winning the national Rawlings Gold Glove in 2010. Meaning, I was named the best defensive catcher in the country at the Division 2 level.

Q. What is your favorite part about being part of the SCU baseball team?A. My favorite part about being a member of the SCU Broncos Baseball program is having the opportunity to watch the players develop and grow as ballplayers and people.

Q. What was the transition from player to administrator like?A. I had no idea how much work it takes to run a baseball program. It makes me appreciate what all of my coaches over the years have gone through to make my baseball career experience as great as it was. I never realized that it takes so much time to plan and operate a program.

Q. What is a typical day like?A. I usually get into the office around 8:30 AM and work on anything that needs to get done, ranging from reimbursements for the program to player entry into our prospect database. I am here to do anything to help the program operate on a daily basis. I call myself the "all-purpose guy" because I am involved in almost everything to goes on.

Q. What is your favorite play in baseball?A. My favorite play in baseball would have to be a popped up foul bunt that a catcher has to run and slide to catch. I always lived for that play and only had one my entire career as a catcher. Catchers usually don't get a "glory play" like that so we have to capitalize when it comes our way.